Masemola said the union would also focus on further demands for its workers and called for the home affairs department to provide a special dispensation document for workers in the Western Cape farms.

Workers embarked on strike action last year, demanding the minimum wage be increased to R150 from R69. They were also demanding a cohesive land reform programme be implemented. The strike was suspended in December but resumed in January.

De Doorns was the epicentre of violent clashes between protesters and police.On January 10, police used a water cannon, fired rubber bullets and stun grenades in an attempt to disperse thousands of strikers who pelted them with stones.

A truck was hijacked and set alight on January 12. – Additional reporting by Sapa

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The National Health Laboratory Services finally admitted to a bottleneck last week, after denying there were any issues since April. According to the service, the backlog of 80 000 tests started in the first week of May

The National Health Laboratory Services finally admitted to a bottleneck last week, after denying there were any issues since April. According to the service, the backlog of 80 000 tests started in the first week of May